“I am pleased to present four new charters today and continue the state’s commitment to expanding high quality, public school options for students,” Chester said. “We expect great things from charter schools in Massachusetts and hold them accountable for results. I am eager to see these schools open successfully, deliver outstanding instruction, and prepare students for their future.”

“We are proud to welcome these new charters to Massachusetts, and look forward to seeing the innovative ways in which they will help provide their students with the tools needed to succeed,” said Secretary Reville.

All charter schools are chartered for a period of five years. At the end of that period, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education reviews the school’s performance in detail before making a decision on whether to renew the charter.

The state Achievement Gap Act of 2010 raised the charter school cap in the lowest performing school districts and made a number of changes to the charter authorizing process.

The cap on district net school spending under the law is being raised from 9 percent to a maximum of 18 percent through incremental steps. The cap lift only applies to districts with academic performance in the lowest 10 percent as measured by MCAS, and applicants under the cap lift must have a proven track record of success in increasing academic attainment and commit to working with a diverse population of students, officials said.

Sixteen charter schools were approved last year after the cap was raised.